Orlando Vandross is in his fifth season as an assistant coach for the Charlotte 49ers men’s basketball program under head coach Alan Major. Vandross came to Charlotte in 2010 after spending the previous thirteen seasons at Boston University as an assistant and the last three as an associate head coach. Vandross has seventeen years of Division 1 coaching experience overall.

During Vandross’ time at Charlotte, the 49ers have captured the 2013 Great Alaska Shootout and 2014 Puerto Rico Tip-Off titles and earned a bid to the 2013 NIT. Last season, the 49ers received votes in the AP and the Coaches Polls for the first time since December, 2009. In 2013, the 49ers won 21 games which marked the program’s first 20-win season since 2007-08, and with another winning season in 2014, the 49ers posted back-to-back winning campaigns for the first time since 2007. Charlotte has posted a victory over a top 15 team in three of the last four years.

A graduate of American International College (AIC) in Springfield, MA in 1992, Vandross ranked thirteenth in scoring at AIC and is third on the career assist list. He joined BU’s staff in 1987 and helped the Terriers to four postseason appearances, including one NCAA Tournament and three National Invitations Tournaments. He also coached four American East Rookies of the Year and nine first team all-America East Choices.

Prior to BU, Vandross served as an assistant coach at Massasoit Community College for one season. Vandross was an assistant coach at Brockton (MA) High School in 1995. He also has been involved at the state and AAU levels. He spent the 1993 and the 1994 seasons as the head coach of the South Shore Tigers AAU Team and was the head coach for the Coastal Region Team at the 1996 Bay State Games.

"We are excited about the 2014-15 season,” Vandross said. “With the core of our team returning and the addition of a talented recruiting class, we look forward to preparing our team to play at a high level”